Dr. Roxanne Chang, MD

Pediatrician

2161 W 182nd St Torrance CA, 90504 Show map

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About

Dr. Roxanne Chang practices general pediatrics in both the outpatient and inpatient settings in Torrance, California. Dr. Chang specializes in the health care of children, from birth to age 21. She also supervises pediatric resident physicians and enjoys teaching in an academic clinical setting. Dr. Chang has additional experience in early childhood mental health, serving as a pediatric consultant for mental health, working with at-risk children and their families. Dr. Chang is dedicated to optimizing the physical, developmental, and emotional health of her patients. Dr. Chang is also committed to volunteerism and advocacy. She serves as a volunteer board member for a local non-profit agency that empowers under-served and at-risk children and their families. She is also a volunteer lecturer for orphan advocacy training.

Education and Training

University of California at Los Angeles MD 2000

Harvard University BA East Asian Studies and Philosophy 1996

Board Certification

Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)

PediatricsAmerican Board of PediatricsABP

Provider Details

Female Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish

Dr. Roxanne Chang, MD

Dr. Roxanne Chang, MD's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Should my child have the flu vaccine?
Yes please! Infants are at higher risk of more severe illness from influenza. READ MORE
How long does a fever last with an ear infection?
If your daughter is being treated with antibiotics, the fever (core temperature > 100.4) should resolve by 2-3 days of antibiotic use. If you have been asked to “watch and wait,” most fevers caused by viruses will begin to improve at about 2-3 days as well. Check in with your pediatrician if it persists for more than 3 days. READ MORE
At what age can children receive the flu vaccine?
6 months and up! Will need 2 doses (at least 4 weeks apart) during the first season. Fact sheet on flu vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/child/flu.html READ MORE
My second child is 14 months old and hasn't taken her first steps. Is something wrong?
Children grow and develop at very different speeds. Time to independent walking is often a combination of temperament, physical size, and just who the child is. Early walkers tend to be curious, outgoing, fearless "go-getter" types who are slimmer and smaller and size, while later walkers might be more "chill" personality types, cautious, or larger in size. Of course, these are no absolutes and children are unique individuals. Time to independent walking, as long as it is within normal range (about 9-16 months), does not predict future athleticism or physical capabilities. As long as your child has met previous gross motor milestones (rolling over, sitting, crawling, etc.), your pediatrician has not had any prior concerns about your child being too floppy or stiff, and your child is now pulling to a stand, beginning to cruise (walking while holding onto furniture), and consistently making developmental progress, I would not worry. Continue to encourage and offer plenty of opportunities to cruise and move about on the floor, and monitor her progress. If your child has not met milestones previously, has had concerns for being too floppy or stiff, is not yet pulling to a stand or beginning to cruise, is still not walking independently by 16 months, or shows any signs of developmental regression, consult with your pediatrician for a detailed assessment. Depending on what your pediatrician finds during the examination, you may need further laboratory testing, specialty referral, or a referral for a formal developmental assessment with early childhood developmental specialists, including OT or PT. READ MORE
Newborn constipation, what can I do?
First of all, so sorry for the delay in answering this question. There was a problem with seeing them in my inbox for some reason. Your baby is settling into her regular stooling pattern now. While many breastfed infants seem to poop after every feed, it is also normal to have infrequent bowel movements, up to once every three days...even a week! As long as the stool is soft and not small, hard, and pebbly, she is not constipated. To help your baby have more comfortable bowel movements and less gas, try massaging and stroking her tummy a few times a day, in a clockwise fashion. This helps to move gas bubbles in an outward fashion, and also helps to optimize intestinal motility. I'm a big fan of infant massage. You can do this with her regular lotion, or something like grapeseed or olive oil, which usually do not cause reactions on skin. Avoid any fragranced products. If she is grunting and straining to stool, apply some pressure to her feet to help her out so she has something to push against-- it is hard to expel stool on one's back. Mylicon (chemical name simethicone) is safe for newborns, it just does not always work in every baby. It is not absorbed into the system, but stays in the intestines, and works by decreasing the surface tension of gas bubbles, essentially popping existing ones and preventing new ones from forming. It will not increase constipation. If your baby is truly continuing to have constipation (hard pebbly stools), now that she is older, you can try some prune juice (1-2 oz) added to her formula. I prefer not to do this in babies less than 1 months old. Lactulose can also be added to formula, but should be discussed with your pediatrician. Glycerin suppositories can be used occasionally when a baby has hard impacted stool, however, this should not be used routinely as it can alter the body's natural rhythms to expel stool. A dependence on rectal stimulation for stooling can develop. If your baby had delayed passage of meconium at birth (should pass within first 48 hours of life) and is having ongoing, recurrent ,or chronic issues with constipation, consult your pediatrician to discuss whether or not something more serious might be going on, such as a condition called Hirschsprung Disease, in which the nerves are not developed properly in the colon, so that it fails to relax and expel stool properly. Also consult with your pediatrician if your baby has ribbon-like stools (very narrow in diameter), or is not growing or developing as she should. Seek urgent medical attention if your baby every has bloody stool, is vomiting, or has significant abdominal distention. I hope she is better now! READ MORE
My baby blinks excessively. What's wrong?
Blinking is a normal reflex that regulates tears to protect the eye from dryness. It also protects the eye from bright light, and anything that comes toward it, such as a gust of sand or a finger. If your child is truly experiencing excessive blinking, bring him in for an examination by your pediatrician. Excessive blinking can be caused by problems with the eyelids, front part of the eye, occasional exotropia (turning out of the eye), stress, or any other discomfort. Older children may blink excessively if they need glasses (refractive error, attempt to see more clearly), or as a tic manifestation. While tics can happen in infants, it is extremely rare. Isolated blinking tics tend to be transient, resolve in a few weeks, and do not signify an underlying neurological problem. No brain imaging needs to be done. Children with multiple tics (other movements and/or vocalizations) should see a pediatric neurologist for further evaluation. Your pediatrician can examine your baby's eye to see if the conjunctiva (membrane covering eyeball) might be irritated and pink or red, and if so, ascertain the cause of the irritation. Your pediatrician may also refer your baby to see an ophthalmologist to look for other causes in the eye. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Pediatric Hospital MedicineNewborn NurseryGeneral Outpatient PediatricsEarly Childhood Mental HealthPre-adoptive ConsultationAdoption specific needsFoster care specific needs

Faculty Titles & Positions

Director of Pediatrics MAMA’s Prenatal Program -
Site Director Reach Out And Read Program -
Assistant Clinical Professor David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA -
Board of Directors and a pediatric consultant Community’s Child, Inc. -
Medical Director Community’s Child Annual Spring Health Education and Screening Outreach -

Awards

Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize for Senior Thesis (issued by Harvard University in June 1996) Year
Letter of Distinction (issued by Harbor-UCLA Pediatrics in January 1999) Year
Resident Teaching Award (issued by Harbor-UCLA Pediatrics in June 2003) Year
Making a Difference Award 2019 (associated with Community’s Child, Inc.) Year

Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors

Community's Child, Inc.
Bring Me Hope China/USA
Dr. Chang actively supports the program’s mission - to provide homeless women with infants healthy alternatives to abuse, poverty, addictions, and hopelessness.

Dr. Roxanne Chang, MD's Practice location

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Torrance, California 90501

Get Direction

New patients: 310-533-6600

www.harbor-ucla.org

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

TIES For Families - Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, South Bay

21081S. Western Ave. 295 -
Torrance, CA 90501

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New patients: 310-533-6600

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

1000 W. Carson St. -
Torrance, CA 90509

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2161 W 182nd St -
Torrance, CA 90504

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New patients: 310-222-2101

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et to know Pediatrician Dr. Roxanne Chang, who serves patients in Torrance, California.

A caring and compassionate pediatrician, Dr. Chang devotes her expertise to the care of vulnerable children and their families at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center within the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine. In her multifaceted role, she serves as the Director of Pediatrics in the MAMA’s Prenatal Program, oversees the Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics Rotation, and acts as the Site Director of the Reach Out And Read Program.

Her areas of specialization encompass a wide range of pediatric concerns, including general pediatrics, pediatric mental health, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, developmental disabilities, foster care and adoption, prenatal substance and alcohol exposures, and early childhood mental health for infants and families.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Chang plays an integral role in educating the next generation of medical professionals as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Her educational journey is equally impressive, having earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in East Asian Studies and Philosophy from Harvard University in 1996 and her Medical Degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 2000. Subsequently, she completed her residency in pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center from 2000 to 2003.

As a testament to her commitment to excellence and ongoing learning, Dr. Chang holds the prestigious title of Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). The mission of the ABP is to advance child health by certifying pediatricians who meet standards of excellence and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends individuals be under pediatric care up to the age of 21. Pediatricians provide medical care to people ranging in age from newborns to young adults. They are trained to examine, diagnose, and treat children with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses through all of their developmental stages, as they grow and mature.

A valued member of the Board of Directors and a pediatric consultant at Community’s Child, Inc., Dr. Chang actively supports the program’s mission – to provide homeless women with infants healthy alternatives to abuse, poverty, addictions, and hopelessness. Since February 2014, she has held the position of Medical Director for Community’s Child Annual Spring Health Education and Screening Outreach.

Her impressive list of recognitions includes the Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize for Senior Thesis (issued by Harvard University in June 1996), Letter of Distinction (issued by Harbor-UCLA Pediatrics in January 1999), Resident Teaching Award (issued by Harbor-UCLA Pediatrics in June 2003), and Making a Difference Award 2019 (associated with Community’s Child, Inc.).

On a more personal note, Dr. Chang speaks English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.